overlook 1 of 2

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as in to dominate
to look down on the fortress overlooks the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to possess
to cast a spell on the superstitious grandmother actually believed that the baby had been overlooked by a gypsy woman

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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overlook

2 of 2

noun

as in lookout
a high place or structure from which a wide view is possible just down the road there's a great overlook where you can get a panoramic view of the valley below

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word overlook distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of overlook are disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

When would disregard be a good substitute for overlook?

While in some cases nearly identical to overlook, disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

When is it sensible to use forget instead of overlook?

While the synonyms forget and overlook are close in meaning, forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

Where would ignore be a reasonable alternative to overlook?

The words ignore and overlook can be used in similar contexts, but ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

When is neglect a more appropriate choice than overlook?

The words neglect and overlook are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

When can slight be used instead of overlook?

In some situations, the words slight and overlook are roughly equivalent. However, slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of overlook
Verb
Colchero says the evolutionary pressures that produced this gender gap can not be overlooked. Allison Aubrey, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025 And, if identity suffices in defining the art work, what else about it is overlooked along that way? Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
There’s also Scott Beebe, a 66-year-old, 14-year VMRG rescue-level member who has summited Holy Cross 15 times and leads summertime pilgrimages to the Notch Mountain overlook as pastor of Vail’s Mount of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Ted Katauskas, Outside, 23 Sep. 2025 With nearly 60 miles of trails, hikers can explore waterfalls, panoramic overlooks and historic sites like the Stagecoach Road. Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overlook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlook
Verb
  • Another key aspect of Bananatex is its open-source nature, designed to be shared with others to offer a viable alternative to synthetic materials that dominate the bag industry.
    Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
  • In a world dominated by uncertainty, how companies prepare for deregulation is one of the few levers of control available to leadership.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Prizegivers have also in the past been accused of being snobbish, of having an anti-American bias and of ignoring some of the giants of literature, including Russia's Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, France's Emile Zola and Ireland's James Joyce.
    Simon Johnson, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Hoping the broadcasts ignore that will always be a fruitless endeavor.
    Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Some genres may be extremely violent and gory, so parents may want to consider supervising their children's viewing of films or avoid them altogether.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisement Concerns about damage to parks Former park officials and advocates have expressed fear that protected land will be damaged by visitors if sites are left partially open while thousands of workers are furloughed or fired, and therefore absent from supervising lands.
    Connor Greene, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, Mimas also possesses an enormous impact crater (named Herschel), which itself is approximately one-third of the diameter of the entire moon itself.
    Big Think, Big Think, 9 Oct. 2025
  • However, scientists have already confirmed that neutrinos do possess mass and thus defied the model’s predictions, though their exact mass remains unknown, with only upper limits established so far.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The New Content Economy, examining the evolving landscape of creators, media, and emerging technologies.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Skordeles said some private sources economists examine include freight data from ports and railroads, industry group data from organizations like the National Association of Realtors, and earnings reports from public companies.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • You’d be forgiven for not knowing, since MotoGP, despite being the most prestigious motorcycle racing series in the world, is still a niche sport.
    Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025
  • You’ll be forgiven for not spending a lot of time thinking about zip ties.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Mannika trained as a sociologist at Columbia University and now manages product for tech companies.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 10 Oct. 2025
  • However, alternatives require significant knowledge and expertise to manage effectively.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The complaint also alleges that Dennis did not maintain proper lookout, did not keep her vehicle under proper control, did not apply her brakes, and did not utilize the last clear chance, in addition to driving under the influence.
    Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
  • These historic mines offer great mountainous lookouts.
    Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Overlook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlook. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

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